From Iron Man to Wolverine, with a healthy helping of the Man of Steel in between, the summer of 2013 is certainly not short of big budget superhero movies — like most every summer of the past decade. But for those looking for something different, the next few months will offer variety, too — the sequel to “Star Trek,” the return of “The Lone Ranger,” the monsters versus robots action of “Pacific Rim” and more. There’s truly a film for everyone, so pass the popcorn and get ready for …

May 3

“Iron Man 3” — Robert Downey Jr. makes his fourth film appearance as billionaire superhero Tony Stark (five if you count his “The Incredible Hulk” cameo), this time not under director Jon Favreau but series newcomer Shane Black, writer of “Lethal Weapon.” With RDJ hinting that this may be his last solo mission in the armor, fan expectations and anticipation are high, but can this one live up to the sky-high grosses of “Marvel’s The Avengers”? (Related: ‘Iron Man 3’ taps into comic book beginnings)

May 10

“The Great Gatsby” — Baz Lurhmann’s multimillion dollar adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel was originally supposed to come out in December, but was pushed back to May to avoid “scheduling conflicts.” Usually it’s a bad sign when a film is delayed, but Warner Bros. seems to be showing confidence by scheduling this one for the summer — though even with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire it’ll have to work hard to avoid getting steamrolled by the “Iron Man” juggernaut.

May 17

“Star Trek Into Darkness” — Perhaps the summer’s most anticipated sequel sees director JJ Abrams return to pilot the Enterprise he rebooted, before warping off to tackle the “Star Wars” universe. With the addition of “Sherlock” star Benedict Cumberbatch as the villain, this new “Trek” promises to be as action-packed and exciting as its predecessor — though some of us still wonder what happened to the more cerebral, less bang bang “Trek” we grew up with. (P.S. That title is still stupid.)

“Fast & Furious 6” — The gang’s all here. Again. The blockbuster success of “Fast Five” back in 2011 ensured another outing for Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and the rest of the cast of this car porn cornucopia, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, reprising his role introduced in the last movie. Also returning is Michelle Rodriguez, whose presumed-dead Letty turned up very much alive in “Five”’s post-credits cookie. (Uh, spoiler?)

“Epic” — The new film from Blue Sky Studios, who brought the world “Ice Age” and “Robots,” this animated adventure is based on William Joyce’s young adult novel “The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs” — which is easily a way better title than “Epic.” The usual cast of oddly matched celebrities (Amanda Seyfried, Beyoncé, Christoph Waltz, Steven Tyler) lend their voices. As the summer’s first family film, this is probably well-positioned to rake in the kiddie audience until “Monsters University” drops in June.

“The Hangover Part III” — Yeah, pretty much everyone in the world was disappointed by II. Is there any reason to hope III will be any better? Maybe — this time they’ve junked the “Oh, no, we got drugged again” motif and made it a road trip where hapless pal Doug gets kidnapped. And everyone says this is the final film in the series, so hopefully director Todd Phillips is inspired to send the franchise out on a high note.

“After Earth” — The world’s ending a lot these days. In this one, generations after abandoning the planet, a father and son (Will Smith and his “Karate Kid” son Jaden) crash land on Earth after 1,000 years of humanity’s absence. Director M. Night Shyamalan could use a hit, but coming out in the middle of a crowded summer — with bigger movies opening all around it — chances are “After Earth” will get lost in the shuffle.

May 31: 'Now You See Me' - photo courtesy Summit Entertainment.

“Now You See Me” — A group of magicians led by Jesse Eisenberg commits dazzling heists in front of a full audience, and an FBI agent played by Mark Ruffalo is determined to stop them. With a supporting cast including Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Woody Harrelson, the marketing seems to be aiming for an “Ocean’s Eleven” vibe, minus that film’s dominating star power and Vegas locale.

June 7

“The Purge” — Here’s a horror concept for you — in a future where overpopulation runs rampant, the government has sanctioned a yearly 12-hour period where all crime, including murder, is legal. A family led by Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey try to survive the night. It’s an intriguing (if depressingly nihilistic) idea for a movie, though writer/director James DeMonaco’s resume — “Jack,” “Skinwalkers” — doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

“The Internship” — Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson team up again to play a pair of downsized salesmen who, desperate to get a foot in the door, accept an unpaid internship at Google. Given the state of the economy and how many face such issues, a canny script would seem to have a strong chance of resonating with a large audience. Too bad that, judging by the trailer, the film aims instead for the lowest common denominator in its humor. Still, Vaughn and Wilson have spun gold out of straw before.

June 12

“This is the End” — Let’s get meta: A group of R-rated comedy actors team up for an R-rated comedy where they play themselves as the world is ending around them. Yep, another apocalypse. Based on a short film made by Jay Baruchel and Seth Rogen, the full version includes them, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Michael Cera, Emma Watson and many, many more. Star-studded and potentially hilarious, but then, so was “Movie 43.”

June 14

“Man of Steel” — It has been a mere seven years since the last attempt to reboot Superman, must be time to try again. This time, though, comes with the input of a few new creative minds — director Zach Snyder (“300,” “Watchmen”) and producer Christopher Nolan (the “Dark Knight” trilogy). The most recent trailer certainly looks a little darker than Superman films past, but also captures the majesty and hope that the character represents. Have Nolan and Snyder found the balance that will make the Man of Steel soar again?

“World War Z” — An adaptation of Max Brooks’ gripping zombie apocalypse novel, this Brad Pitt-produced-and-starring film has had its fair share of troubles in production, including multiple rewrites and last-minute reshoots leading to it being pushed back six months. Fans of the book have also noted how the novel’s journalistic approach has seemingly been shelved for what seems like a “War of the Worlds” retread. Good news: Director Marc Forster has much experience with excellent human drama (“Monster’s Ball,” “Finding Neverland”). Bad news: He also directed “Quantum of Solace,” pretty universally considered the weakest of Daniel Craig’s Bond run.

June 21: 'Monsters University' - photo courtesy Disney.

“Monsters University” — Pixar once again dips its toe into the franchise well, revisiting 2001’s classic “Monsters, Inc.” characters when they first met while attending college. John Goodman and Billy Crystal both return, and the younger setting seems to give the enterprise a fresher feel than a straight sequel would have. The last time Pixar revamped things for a follow-up, it gave the world “Cars 2” — but either way, expect “MU” to make a mint at the box office.

June 28

“White House Down” — No, you’re not having déjà vu, terrorists are taking over the White House again. This time, director Roland Emmerich (maker of subtle dramas like “Independence Day” and “The Day After Tomorrow”) oversees the action, with Channing Tatum as the heroic soldier and Jamie Foxx as the endangered president. The success of “Olympus Has Fallen” shows that this concept can be successful — but twice in the same calendar year?

“The Heat” — Sandra Bullock and red hot comedian Melissa McCarthy team up as a pair of investigators looking to take down a Russian mobster. This is only Bullock’s second big film after her Oscar win for “The Blind Side,” and it seems to be a retreat to familiar territory (see “Miss Congeniality” 1 and 2), while McCarthy’s star power is so hot she made the mediocre-at-best “Identity Theft” into a smash.

July 3

“Despicable Me 2” — The minions are back! This animated sequel sees Gru (again voiced by Steve Carell) recruited by the Anti-Villain League to fight a big baddie voiced by Al Pacino. The original film proved a surprisingly big box office hit, and Universal is showing a lot of confidence putting the sequel on Fourth of July weekend. “Monsters” will likely be the summer’s biggest family film, but “Despicable” may not be far behind.

“The Lone Ranger” — Disney is hoping to recapture that “Pirates of the Caribbean” magic by reuniting director Gore Verbinski with Johnny Depp, who plays Tonto to Armie Hammer’s masked avenger. There has been plenty of controversy surrounding whether having Depp portray the Native American Tonto is racist — a fair question. The trailer features enough slam-bang action and over-the-top set pieces to appeal to the masses, but whether it will hit as big as “Pirates” is still open for debate.

July 3: 'The Lone Ranger' - photo courtesy Disney.

July 12

“Grown Ups 2” — Time for a sequel to the 2010 comedy hit. Um, yay. This one has almost all the original cast back (Rob Schneider bowed out), and focuses on the kids’ last day of school. Oddly, this is Adam Sandler’s first sequel in more than 20 years of stardom, and of all the franchises to revisit, the cry to reprise “Grown Ups” seems like it should have been rather faint. Still, Sandler has a tendency to draw fans no matter what, especially with Kevin James and Chris Rock as backup again.

“Pacific Rim” — Giant monsters fighting giant robots. Seriously, what more do you need to know? Now, this one is from Guillermo del Toro, the amazing director of “Pan’s Labyrinth” and the “Hellboy” franchise, and the incredible special effects are a far cry from your papa’s “Godzilla” films. Can del Toro elevate epic clashes of huge beasts into something relatable on a human level? Then again, does he even have to? It’s robots fighting monsters, for pete’s sake!

July 17

“Turbo” — The summer’s animated fare from DreamWorks sees a garden snail voiced by Ryan Reynolds who dreams of becoming the fastest snail in the world. This one has already been franchised out, with an animated series based upon the movie ready to debut on Netflix this winter. But in a crowded summer for kids flicks, will “Turbo” be left in the dust?

July 19

“R.I.P.D.” — Speaking of Ryan Reynolds, here he is again as a cop who gets gunned down and is resurrected to join a team of undead detectives, including Jeff Bridges. (Get it? “Rest In Peace Department”?) The poster, the teaming up of a young star with a veteran, the sci-fi/action/comedy concept — it all feels like a “Men in Black” offshoot, and just like MIB, this one’s based on a comic book. But action fans probably have bigger fish to fry this weekend.

July 19: 'R.I.P.D.' - photo courtesy Universal Studios.

“RED 2” — Yep, time for the sequel, and most everybody is back, with a few new additions including Catherine Zeta-Jones and Anthony Hopkins. The director this time is Dean Parisot, whose limited filmography (“Galaxy Quest,” “Fun with Dick and Jane”) doesn’t give much indication of how he’ll handle the action of this one, but with how much fans adored the original, this sequel probably has little to worry about.

July 26

“The Wolverine” — Hugh Jackman returns for his fifth portrayal of Marvel’s most lovable badass (sixth if you count his “First Class” cameo), this time traveling to Japan and suffering from the loss of his lauded healing powers. The last go round, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” wasn’t exactly well-received among the fandom, so the creators are taking great pains to make this feel like a totally different film — and if the action’s up to par, it might send the summer out on a high note.

July 31

“The Smurfs 2” — Sigh. You know what’s really sad? This is going to be Jonathan Winters’ final film. The second of an apparent trilogy(!) sees Smurfette (again Katy Perry) being courted by evil Smurf clones created by Gargamel. I can’t believe I actually just wrote that sentence.

July 31: 'The Smurfs 2' - photo courtesy Sony Pictures Animation.

August

As the summer season starts to fizzle out, here are a few more titles: The kinda-sequel “300: Rise of an Empire,”“2 Guns” with Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg, the futuristic action film “Elysium” with Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, the fantasy follow-up “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters,” the “Cars” spinoff “Planes” (though it isn’t being made by Pixar) and superhero sequel “Kick-Ass 2.”

Beard: ‘Iron Man 3’ taps into comic book beginnings

“Iron Man 3” may turn out to be the last hurrah with Robert Downey Jr. in the role — beyond more Avengers films — but if that’s to be, the actor assured his place in cinematic superhero history. Iron Man will join a small, elite group of costumed crusaders who’ve enjoyed a hugely popular series of films, due not only to their charismatic stars but also to their adherence to their comic book foundations. In fact, “Iron Man 3” offers viewers two major components from the character’s rich comic book chronicles.

May 3: 'Iron Man 3' – photo courtesy Disney.

Finally, here in the third film, Iron Man’s greatest foe takes the stage. The Mandarin first appeared in 1964’s Tales of Suspense No. 50, a Chinese “super-menace” who went on to bedevil Tony Stark time and time again over five decades. The character began as a throwback to the “Yellow Peril” villains of the pulp era, but with the added Red Scare paranoia of the early 1960s. Since then, the Mandarin’s been fleshed out to be a living, breathing opponent for the Armored Avenger, now doubly so through actor Ben Kingsley. Iron Man’s fans have waited for the mastermind’s appearance in the films catching since the barest hint of him in the first installment, and it looks like they’ve gotten their wish — in spades.

Another factor of “Iron Man 3” stems from a more recent development in the comics, although a major one nonetheless. Tony Stark’s mental manipulation of his armor in the film has it origins in comic book writer Warren Ellis’ groundbreaking 2005 Extremis storyline. In it, our hero was injected with a serum that allowed him to contain his armor’s “undersheath” in the hollows in his bones and to call the outer protective pieces to assemble around him by sheer force of will. “Extremis” became a popular and permanent part of the Iron Man mythos, one that obviously suited “Iron Man 3’s” screenwriters.

By utilizing these comic book building blocks, the Iron Man films and their Marvel brethren have created a rare synergy between the source material and the mass-market movie medium. Little wonder then why they’ve been so successful — and why it appears that “Iron Man 3” will be equally so.

Downey has two Oscar nominations under his belt: one for Best Actor for “Chaplin” (1992) and a Best Supporting Actor nom for “Tropic Thunder” (2008). Evans will be making his Oscar debut. Jackson was nominated for Supporting Actor for “Pulp Fiction” (1994). He is also in Best Picture nominee “Django Unchained.” Renner was nominated for Best Actor in the 2009 Best Picture winner, “The Hurt Locker,” and for Supporting Actor in “The Town” (2010). Ruffalo received his first nomination for Supporting Actor in 2010 Best Picture nominee “The Kids Are All Right.”

The Avengers join already announced presenters that include last year’s acting winners.

As is the tradition, the most four recent acting category winners will return to the Oscar stage and bestow the honor on four more actors. As is the custom, the Best Actor Oscar winner typically presents the Oscar to Best Actress and vice versa. The Supporting Actor presents to Supporting Actress.

Dujardin won the Oscar for Best Actor for “The Artist,” which went on to win Best Director and Best Picture for a total of five Oscars.

Plummer won the Supporting Actor Oscar for his heart-warming role in “Beginners,” where he plays a man battling cancer and coming out of the closet. Plummer was 82 at last year’s ceremony, making him the oldest actor to win an Academy Award. (It may be interesting to note that Eli Wallach is the oldest Acting Honorary Award winner, receiving the award at 94. Emmanuelle Riva, nominated for “Amour,” could steal the title from Plummer if she wins Best Actress on Feb. 24. She is turning 86 on Oscar Night.)

Streep was a somewhat surprising win for Best Actress, even though her role as Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady” was remarkable. She won over Viola Davis, nominated for “The Help.” In her acceptance speech, Streep addressed those who may think she shouldn’t have won.

“When they called my name I’d had this feeling I could hear half of America going, ‘Oh no … oh c’mon … why …her … again?’” Streep said. “But whatever.”

Spencer was the frontrunner for the Supporting Actress category — for her performance in “The Help.”

Mark Wahlberg and Ted, the animated bear from the movie “Ted,” have also been confirmed presenters.

The 85th Academy Awards, for outstanding film achievements of 2012, will be presented on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 225 countries worldwide.

Toledo Free Press Star Lead Designer and Film Editor James A. Molnar blogs about all things Oscar at TheGoldKnight.com. Watch him discuss movies on “WNWO Today” around 5:50 a.m. on Fridays. Also, listen to James discuss movies on “Eye on Your Weekend” on 1370 WSPD every Friday at 6 p.m.

McGinnis: The many modern faces of Sherlock

When viewers tuned into CBS’s new show “Elementary” during its debut Sept. 27, its high numbers once more underlined pop culture’s everlasting obsession with the brilliant British detective Sherlock Holmes. Few individuals are as fixed in the public imagination, yet as adaptable to reinterpretation, as the investigator who (usually) lives at 221B Baker St.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s immortal sleuth has been depicted on stage, radio and screen for more than a century. The “Guinness Book of World Records” names Holmes as the single most performed character in film history, with more than 75 actors taking up the mantle. (One imagines Holmes’ loyal companion Dr. John Watson can’t be far behind.)

The legendary detective clearly retains a tight grip on the public imagination, and all of the most popular modern takes on the character bring their own unique perspective and style to the case files of Sherlock Holmes.

“Sherlock Holmes,” film series

First released: 2009.

The concept: While maintaining Holmes’ traditional Victorian setting, this series of films aims to deliver a more action-oriented Sherlock, with fighting sequences and pacing that is less Charles Dickens and more Chuck Norris. The end result still retains some elements of Doyle’s work, but by and large follows its own path as a franchise.

Holmes: Played by Oscar nominee and “Iron Man” Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock is shown to be as much a man of his fists as his wits. Downey emphasizes Holmes’ analytical tendencies while still ready for action. The success of the first film further cemented Downey’s comeback as an A-list actor.

Watson: Played by fellow Oscar nominee Jude Law, this Watson, like most modern interpretations, rejects the idea of playing Holmes’ bumbling sidekick. The good doctor is depicted well into his partnership with Sherlock, and has long since adapted to Holmes’ eccentricities. Law’s Watson is on relatively equal footing with Holmes — more of an equal than a tagalong.

Key creative figure: Director Guy Ritchie, who also made “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” “Snatch” and “RocknRolla.”

Relation to source material: Limited. The plot feels less like a vintage Holmes mystery and more like a modern action film that happens to feature Doyle’s characters, though some nifty sequences which show how Sherlock’s mind works fit the material quite well.

The future: A sequel, “A Game of Shadows,” was released in 2011; a third film is scheduled for release in 2014.

The verdict: While in tone and structure the films have little relation to Doyle’s work, they remain very entertaining movies with solid performances and energetic direction. They play like what they are — flicks made for a broader audience, the kind that likes adventure more than intellectual gymnastics.

Where to see it: Both films are available on DVD.

“Sherlock,” BBC TV

First aired: 2010.

The concept: Updating Holmes and Watson to modern times while maintaining the British setting and telling stories directly inspired (to a degree) by Doyle’s original work.

Holmes: Played by Benedict Cumberbatch, this Holmes is depicted as a committed social outcast with a mind that yearns for challenge and a burning desire to be right. Cumberbatch, a relative unknown to American audiences before the series aired, will soon have a much wider audience — he plays Smaug in the upcoming “Hobbit” movies and will play the unnamed villain in J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek Into Darkness.”

Watson: Martin Freeman of the original “Office” and the film version of “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” creates a companion that is just as interesting a character as Holmes, in many ways. An army medic recovering from serving in Afghanistan, his Watson is very much the man of action to contrast with Holmes’ intellect. Freeman will also appear in the “Hobbit” films, in the lead role of young Bilbo Baggins.

Key creative figure: Writer and co-creator Steven Moffat, who is currently executive producer of the wildly successful “Doctor Who” series.

Relation to source material: All episodes so far (six through two seasons) have been based on Doyle stories, though the modern adaptations have felt free to stray considerably from the original structure.

The future: A third season has been confirmed and will be filmed in 2013.

The verdict: It’s likely that fewer American fans have seen this version than the others on this list, which is a shame — it’s easily the best modern Sherlock. Wildly enjoyable with whip-smart writing and acting, there’s a reason this has cultivated such a fervent fanbase.

Where to see it: New episodes (when they’re made) air domestically on PBS’s “Masterpiece Mystery.” Both seasons are also on DVD and available for instant streaming via Netflix and Amazon Prime.

“Elementary,” CBS

First aired: Sept. 27.

The concept: Another modern take, this time transplanting the still-British Holmes to New York City.

Holmes: Played by Jonny Lee Miller of “Eli Stone,” this Holmes has just gotten out of rehab and is getting used to new surroundings. Miller brings the character blunt charm with a slightly softer edge than Cumberbatch’s performance. (The two have more in common than just Sherlock, by the way — Miller and Cumberbatch starred together in a stage production of “Frankenstein” in Britain where they alternated playing the Doctor and his monster.)

Watson: A rare female companion, this show’s Dr. Joan Watson is played by acclaimed actress Lucy Liu. Rather than being inspired by battlefield trauma, this Watson is a disgraced surgeon assigned to monitor Holmes post-rehab.

Key creative figure: Creator Robert Doherty, who has written for “Dark Angel” and “Medium.”

Relation to source material: Very minimal. Besides the changes in locale and characters, the writing in the pilot is much more modern-American-police-procedural than vintage Holmes.

The future: The debut episode garnered more than 13 million viewers and a 3.1 in the key demographics, which indicates the show may have a solid future ahead of it.

The verdict: It’s tough to rate a whole series based solely on the pilot, the only episode that has aired thus far. What we’ve seen has been a solid-yet-unspectacular re-imagining of Sherlock, with writing that isn’t quite at the level of other versions. But with the creative and acting talent this show has, it could turn into something special.

‘Iron Man 2′ coverage: Downey, Rourke, top 10 comics

The rock-‘em-sock-‘em robot-look-alike comic book hero known as Iron Man has been jet-booting through adventures for 47 years and shows no signs of slowing. Maybe you’ve heard he has a new feature film out May 7? If you haven’t, pull your head out from under that rock and set your repulsor rays to “Top 10” – as in “The Top 10 Iron Man Stories,” suggested by Paul Shiple of The Game Room, Jim Collins of JC’s Comic Stop and Ed Katschke of Monarch Cards & Comics.

10. “Tales of Suspense” No. 39 (1963) – It all began here: a Vietnam War parable about a millionaire weapons manufacturer whose heart was broken. Literally.

1. “Iron Man” Vol. 4, No. 1-6 (2005) – “Extremis” is recent, but its one of the most popular Iron Man stories of all and currently being reprinted in a “Director’s Cut.” Tony Stark becomes his armor. And vice versa.

Mickey Rourke finds new redemption in ‘Iron Man 2′

LOS ANGELES (AP) — With the muscular physique of a lifelong athlete, a face battered by boxing and repaired by Hollywood, Mickey Rourke looks almost as intimidating in person as he does in “Iron Man 2,” where he plays a villainous loner determined to destroy the hero with deadly electrically charged whips.

But when the 53-year-old actor walks into a suite at the Four Seasons Hotel to talk about the film, he brings a disarming secret weapon: The tiniest, cutest Pomeranian puppy. Rourke poses for photos with the fuzzy miniature, then the little dog he calls Mush contentedly curls up next to him.

Rourke’s famous love for small-breed dogs (he thanked his dogs when he won a Golden Globe for “The Wrestler” last year and dedicated his Spirit Award for that film to his late Chihuahua, Loki) hints at the inner sensitivity of the man who derailed a promising career in the 1980s with angry outbursts and arrests.

He spent years defeating his demons to make a critically acclaimed comeback in “The Wrestler.” Now he stands poised to recapture the Hollywood glory he enjoyed early in his acting career with his terrific turn as Whiplash in “Iron Man 2.”

Mickey Rourke

“I didn’t think it was going to happen again,” Rourke says, shielding his eyes with sunglasses as if to maintain a shade of distance between himself and an otherwise candid interview. “I burned too many bridges and I did misbehave terribly and I’ve only got myself to blame.”

Not that the role was an easy sell — for Rourke or for Marvel Studios. Director Jon Favreau says he and “Iron Man” star Robert Downey Jr. worked hard to persuade both.

“There was a lot of resistance to (Rourke),” Favreau says. “The studio was not inclined to hire him. It took a bit of a struggle and Robert was very helpful in that. And Robert was the guy who there was resistance in hiring last time around.”

Downey overcame his own troubled past, marred by drug addiction, to see his star-power restored with his role as Tony Stark in the first “Iron Man” film, a huge hit that brought in $318 million domestically.

Rourke’s agent insisted that doing “Iron Man 2” would be a good move, but the actor still needed convincing.

“I didn’t want to play a one-dimensional villain,” he says. “I said I’d like him to have a sense of humor. I’d like him to have a particular look. I’d like to do it with the accent. I could see Favreau shaking his head, and I knew I was taking the chance that he could just say goodbye, thank you for coming in. But he embraced the ideas.”

Making those suggestions and seeing them realized on screen has renewed Rourke’s love of acting. It reminds him of his heroes, like Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, and the brave choices they made during their careers.

“Getting back to being interested enough to make those choices has made me like acting again,” he says. “I enjoy what I do now. I don’t disrespect it and I don’t hate it anymore.”

The truth is he always loved it. An amateur boxer in his teens, Rourke tried acting during a break from the ring and became an instant devotee, studying at the Actors Studio in New York.

“I’d work my construction job, or wherever I was working all day long, and then I’d go into the studio at midnight and work for three or four hours,” he says.

Before long, he was working with Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola and earning critical praise for roles in “Diner” and “Barfly.” But the movie business isn’t like boxing, and Rourke’s temper often got the best of him.

“When I came to Hollywood, I realized it wasn’t all about acting,” he says. “This is where I went wrong … With boxing, with sports, it’s black and white most of the time. There’s hometown decisions, but it’s not as gray as the acting, and that short-circuited me. Now I realize it is political … and at the end of the day, it’s a business.”

Rourke says he had “authority problems” with Hollywood. He was difficult to work with. He’d mouth off to studio heads, policemen, anyone who crossed him. And he was self-righteous about it. Soon the work dried up.

“I had lost my house, my wife, my money, my career and my credibility,” he says. “When a decade went by and I didn’t work, I thought it was over.”

He was living in “a state of shame, as my doctor calls it,” knowing he had squandered the promise of his early work. He recalls stopping into a 7-Eleven on Sunset Boulevard for cigarettes late one night when a man behind him in line said, “Hey, aren’t you the guy who used to be in movies? What’s your name?”

“He mentioned like three wrong names,” Rourke says. “And I remember the whole way home I was so embarrassed. (I wished) there was a button to make me disappear.”

Instead, he went to therapy and learned to shed the childhood traumas that caused his temper to flare. He had all but given up on Hollywood when an agent from a top firm asked to meet with him. Then came roles in “Domino,” “Sin City” and “The Wrestler” and now “Iron Man 2.”

And there’s plenty of work ahead. Rourke just wrapped “Passion Play” with Megan Fox and is currently filming “The Disciples” with John Hurt and Freida Pinto. After that, he has a project with Tony Scott, a movie about the Hells Angels and “Genghis Khan.”

Plus, there’s still “Wild Horses,” the script Rourke’s been working on for 20 years and probably won’t wrap for another couple of years. He said he was looking to cast “a moviestar” in the co-starring role because he couldn’t raise the capital on his name alone. But he doesn’t mind waiting because, “I’m only gonna get one shot to do it and I want to do it the right way. I want to do it my way.”

“Iron Man” was a damn good first foray into the character of Tony Stark and Iron Man, but I think just about everybody was a tad disappointed in the Iron Monger. That last act just wasn’t quite as super-awesome as the first two-thirds. “Iron Man 2” kicks it up several notches across the board.

For the first time, we really get a glimpse of the self-destructive Tony Stark — not the “Demon in a Bottle” storyline we all cherish, but something equally strong. Stark is addicted to being Iron Man, the rush and thrill of being in that armor and knowing there’s nothing on the planet that can even come close. He’s cocky, but he has a secret that is killing him, literally. The palladium he uses to help power that awesome bit of tech in his chest is slowly but surely poisoning his system and will result in his death.

Meanwhile, we’re introduced to Mickey Rourke’s Ivan Vanko, aka Whiplash. He’s the son of a brilliant physicist who worked with Stark’s father in designing the large version of what’s in Stark’s chest. Vanko’s father has raised him with a hatred for the Stark family, which he blames for the ruin of his life — he’s become a ruined drunken shell of the man he should have been. Once he sees Iron Man in action, he begins to work on his own miniaturization and creates the Whiplash outfit to take out Stark.

Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer is kind of like a Michael Dell to Stark’s Steve Jobs. He struggles to project an image that. to Stark, is second nature. Hammer desperately wants to be Stark – he wants Stark’s genius, his women, his fame and adulation, but he can’t quite crack the magic 8 percent of Stark’s brain that gives him a decade’s edge on everyone else.

The scenes with Stark and Hammer are classic. The dialogue between Rockwell and Downey is so sharp and incredibly well delivered that I thought it couldn’t get better. And yet it does.

Garry Shandling’s Senator Stern is just an incredible ass, and he plays it effortlessly. He is someone who looks at the Iron Man tech and thinks about an army of Iron Men serving the interests of the United States.

But the thing that is just outstanding about the film is that every single character has motivations and I understand where they’re coming from.

It is impossible to watch Downey’s Stark and not be quite a bit concerned about the direction he could take. Here’s a man who has “privatized world peace,” snuffing out the problems of the world unilaterally. But he is also a crazy womanizing philanderer.

That’s where Don Cheadle’s Lt. Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes comes in. He is Stark’s best friend, but even he realizes that this is too much power to be squandered upon someone who just isn’t a responsible adult, much less the sort of hero that he has been trained to be.

Then there’s Scarlett Johansson’s Natalie Rushman/Black Widow. She comes into this as a preternatural goddess who steps in to fill Pepper Potts’ shoes as Stark’s assistant.

I love the action of the film. I love that this is full on Marvel Science Fiction. The entire last act just rocks!

“Iron Man 2” is comic movie crack. I remember how I was after I saw “Spider-Man 2.” It felt like the world finally got it. I thought we’d always have films increasingly badass from that point — but “Spider-Man 3” was not better, and I got a tad sad. When you see a comic book movie that is absolutely the best of what that character can be on screen, it is euphoric, something to celebrate, to revel in. I’ve been a comic geek my entire life. I remember when Bob Layton really began blowing my mind with Iron Man. This is that, but on film, with hundreds of talented awesome artists, technicians and craftsmen all supporting that vision.

We may not have a lot of comic book awesome coming this summer, but frankly, this is all I need. I’ll be seeing this a bunch.

The only problem with “Iron Man 2” is this: It really does throw a challenge to Kenneth Branagh on “Thor,” to Joe Johnston on “Captain America” and Joss Whedon on “The Avengers.”

“Iron Man 2” is in the tradition of the great second films in the series we love the second films from. You know the titles. This will be like those experiences, where you were scared that it was going to be watered down, you were worried that there was going to be too much to juggle, when you were terrified it was just going to pander to kids. No. “Iron Man 2” is made for us — all of us.

And by the way … when Johansson goes full Black Widow, you’ll geek out pretty hard. I promise. She’s perfect.

Harry Knowles is a film critic who operates the film review websiteAin’t It Cool News. This review reprinted by permission of Harry Knowles.

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